Democrats pan gas tax gimmick Pappas supports

Chris Pappas is thrilled about the Biden Administration’s proposed gas tax suspension and bragging that he called for the suspension months ago.

But Pappas’ own Democrat colleagues came out blasting the plan as nothing but a campaign gimmick.
 

Here’s what they’re saying…

Washington Post: “Top Treasury Department officials expressed doubts about the gas tax holiday, and at least two top White House economists also privately conveyed reservations.”

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer: Suspending the gas tax may not “have the intended effect in terms of the retail price.”

House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Chair Peter DeFazio: “Suspending the federal gas tax will not provide meaningful relief at the pump for American families, but it will blow a multibillion-dollar hole in the highway trust fund, putting funding for future infrastructure projects at risk.”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi: Dismissed the idea as “very showbiz” and argued it would not have a practical impact on consumers.

Former President Barack Obama: Suspending the gas tax is a “gimmick” to save Americans half a tank of gas over the summer so that lawmakers could “say that they did something.”

Mark Zandi, the chief economist of Moody’s Analytics: A gas tax holiday is “very much on the margin” in terms of lowering gas prices.

Dean Baker, a liberal economist and White House ally: “It looks like you’re doing something, but it’s not really — I think they know that.”

NRCC Comment: “Chris Pappas is only excited about a gas tax gimmick because he has no other viable solutions to meaningfully bring down the price of gas.” – NRCC Spokeswoman Samantha Bullock